Preserving Indigenous culture

Zachary Bennett-Brook has always been around the ocean, and always surfing. Living on the coast, the Wollongong local is also passionate about his Torres Strait Islander heritage. So what happens when you combine these two elements through artwork? The answer: A fresh, creative outlet called Saltwater Dreamtime, and plenty of resurrected surfboards to show for it.

“Being a surfer growing up in Wollongong, being Torres Strait Islander – that’s my indigenous background. So we come from the saltwater people as we’re known, so I’ve always had a strong affinity and connection to the ocean.”

“One day I had an old surfboard lying around and I thought, “Why not do a little bit of artwork on the surfboard, and connect two of my strong passions?” My indigenous background and my surfing culture – link them together as one.”

“It’s trying to put a new light on such an old tradition, but do it in a way that’s respectful to the Indigenous culture. I don’t want to do something that is going to be perceived as being offensive to such an ancient art style.”

“All of my artworks are generally on a black background, to make the colour pop and jump off the board.”

“I lean towards the blues and purples. I have more of a connection with those colours and just think they suit what I’m doing on surfboards. Rather than putting reds and yellows, which are more land colours.”

“I’ve been experimenting a little bit lately; instead of doing a black background, I’ve painted the background so it fades from a purple into a blue…and then I’m doing almost a reverse, with black and white dots over the top.”

“Depending on the final artwork it can take anywhere between a day and a week. Sometimes I just get really into it and I’ll just put my headphones on, sit down and just spend the whole day painting, no interruptions – it’s great. And then other days, you sort of need a break. You get a bit of RSI in your hand and wrist from painting dots all the time.”

“I’ve spoken to elders within the Indigenous community and have gotten there take on what I’m doing – just making sure that it is being respectful towards the culture. Because that’s a very strong part…having a good awareness.”

Multimedia Reporter: Lucy Smith

Happy to share

When the Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre shut down just 18 months after it opened worry spread through the community. Are people really not interested in what Aboriginal culture has to offer and how would that affect the Indigenous community?

“We’re not going to bite people, we are friendly, we want to share our culture with people.”

“It was very sad that Jumbulla closed down… there were so many interactive things inside it to preserve and to teach our culture to non-indigenous people.”

Although it may have been in part the poor choice of location that failed the Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre, Jane Strang believes that there was something deeper involved.

“I think that a lot of non-indigenous people are cautious, they don’t want to offend or step on anyone’s toes. They may just think that: ‘if I don’t get involved then it’s much easier and if I do I could offend someone or disrespect their culture.’” Strang says.

“There is an essence of unawareness when it comes to Aboriginal culture, and centres like Jumbulla are a great initiative to teach non-Indigenous people of this culture. “

The understanding of Indigenous culture by the community would have a great benefit on young Indigenous members in the community.

Michelle Rush, manager of UOW Woolyungah Indigenous Centre has stated that despite the centre’s closure, there is a solid interest in Indigenous culture.

“Within the centre, we have non-Indigenous tutors that teach Indigenous students and not a day doesn’t go by when one of them will ask about our culture, because a student won’t be looking at them or doing something that’s strange to them.”